Ontario

To contact a resource owner, click on the link at the end of the citation.

General

Special Note: Hundreds of Canadian local histories and records have been made freely available and searchable online at www.ourroots.ca. This site is not affiliated with Books We Own, but I included the link here as it should be of general interest to those researching roots in Canada.

"A Brief History of the North American Descendants of William Kay (1754-1840) with some notes on Allied Families." Richard Frederick Kay, 1978. Kay's in Ontario, Canada from 1800 onward and their descendants. JB1

"Obituaries from Ontario's Christian Guardian 1861-1870." Donald A. McKenzie, Hunterdon House, Lambertville, NJ, 1988. "Ontario is the main geographical area covered...(There don't appear to be any references to residents of Glengarry County,...) Quite a few of the deaths recorded are for people who lived in the Quebec portion of the Ottawa Valley, or in the vicinity of Montreal, Sherbrooke, or Quebec City." S9

"Roman Catholic Marriage Registers in Ontario Canada 1828-1870." Renie Rumpel, Ontario Indexing Services, 1997. This series consists of certificates of marriage which were copied from registers of Roman Catholic churches in various parishes located in the Niagra Peninsula, the Toronto area, and the Simcoe and Dufferin Counties. SR5, TF1

Upper Canada

(Note: Upper Canada was a British colony in present-day Ontario from 1791-1841.)

"Authentic Letters From Upper Canada." The Rev. Thomas Radcliff; The MacMillan Company of Canada; 1833 & 1853. The book contains letters from a Thomas William Magrath to his Reverand back home in England. The letters were written in the very early 1800's. The Reverand kept them and published them in 1833. The book has since been republished 120 years later in 1953. Thomas Magrath speaks of his marriage and his hobbies as well as his travels. KP4

"Upper Canada Naturalization Records, 1828-1850." Donald A. McKenzie, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1991. Index of people who gave the Oath of Allegience and became British subjects after entering Upper Canada (Ontario) from 1828-1850. NOTE: those who were already British subjects (ie. born in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales) are not included in this group. Gives name, year record was filed, the county where naturalized, and a reference number for the actual record. MHW

"History of the County of Bruce." Norman Robertson, Publisher - Richard, Bond and Wright Owen Sound Ontario 1971. The History of the County of Bruce and of minor municipalities therein Province of Ontario, Canada. KC6

"The History of the County of Bruce 1907-1968 volume 2." Norman McLeod publisher. Richardson. Bond and Wright Ltd, Owen Sound Ontario 1969. The History of the County of Bruce and the minor municipalities therein 1907-1968 Province of Ontario. KC6

Elgin Co.

Essex Co.

"Genealogy of the French Families of the Detroit River Region 1701-1911." Christian Denissen. Detroit Society for Genealogical Research. 1976. Two volumes. 1392 pages. 185 page index. Based chiefly on the records of Ste Anne parish (Detroit) and Assumption parish (now Windsor, Ont.) the material is organized into families with added information from Tanguay and other documents. It is the life work of The Rev Fr Christian Denissen who died in 1931, and published in book form in 1976 by the DSGR as a bicentennial project. A 2nd edition, with added contributions up to 1936, is currently out of print. PL

"Historical Atlas of Essex & Kent Counties, Ontario." H. Belden & Company 1881. Identifies each freeholder and tenant in every township, also gives historical sketches of each township, a biographical directory which includes place and date of birth and date of arrival in the township, a farmers directory, and some portraits and views of residential/commercial buldings. Includes detailed maps of each township. PL

Frontenac Co.

"Away Back in Clarendon and Miller CA." Armstrong, North Frontenac Printing Service, 1976. General history of the townships of Clarendon and Miller from settlement around 1860 until the post-war era. Contains genealogical information on many of the families who first settled the townships. RW5

"Murder at Sharbot Lake." Cecil S. Paul, self published, 2002. The murder of Matthew Garrett. Lots of info and pics if you think you are a descendant of him, or from the Newton family. KP4

Halton Co.

"Acton's Early Days." H.P. Moore, Acton Free Press, 1939. Historical sketches of individuals living in Acton, Halton County, Ontario, Canada. Written as recollections by the author of things pertaining to Acton. Several families are described withinthe pages of this wonderful book. To request a lookup from "Acton's Early Days", first search the index available online at Halton's Historical & Newspaper Records - enter the name of interest in the space provided, and check the box "Books, Documents and Maps." I can take it from there. JTR

"The Early History of Nasagiweya." J.Norrish,Eden Mills, Jas. Hough, Jr, Printers and bookbinders, 1889. This history of Nassagaweya (present day spelling) township in Halton County, Ontario gives sketches of the first settlers in the area. It has details of each section,who settled it & who they sold it to up to about 1885.It names reeves & councillors from 1850 to 1889. J1

Haldimand Co.

"Cabinet Makers of Haldimand County." Rene Tunney, Haldimand County Museum, 1984. Provides an inventory and brief information concerning the cabinet and furniture makers and a few undertakers in Haldimand County. Covers the years between 1828 and 1904. HQG

"Grand Heritage." Dunnville District Heritage Association, Friesen Printers, 1992. A history of Dunnville and the townships of Canborough, Dunn, Moulton, Sherbrooke, and South Cayuga. HQG

Hastings Co.

"Trenton Roman Catholic Parish Register-June 1858, St.Peter in Chains Roman Catholic Church." This is a list of 218 families listed as being registered in the parish of St. Peter in Chains Roman Catholic Church in Trenton, Ontario in 1858 only. Information includes only names in family and ages. MIC

"Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario." J.H.Beers, Toronto, 1904. Biographies of prominent and representative individuals; many members of early settler families. Entries of the highlighted individals normally include birth dates, parents, some grandparents and children and their spouses or family members. Residence location, fraternal memberships and political affiliations are often mentioned. The information is not always accurate, but it is useful as a guide when doing family research. JN2

"Historical Atlas of Essex & Kent Counties, Ontario." H. Belden & Company 1881. Identifies each freeholder and tenant in every township, also gives historical sketches of each township, a biographical directory which includes place and date of birth and date of arrival in the township, a farmers directory, and some portraits and views of residential/commercial buldings. Includes detailed maps of each township. PL

Lambton Co.

"Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Lambton." J.H.Beers & Co. Toronto, 1906. Biographical sketches of Prominent and representative citizens and many of the early settled families. These biographical books were published in just a few Ontario Counties before the JH Beers Co. went bankrupt. Families paid to submit their family stories, so not every family is represented. Gives interesting (albeit sometimes whitewashed) background on those families. DB1

"Historical Atlas County of Lambton." H. Belden and Comp. of Toronto 1880 Maps and history of Lambton County Ontario Townships. Includes biographical sketches of important people in the County and includes a Lambton County directory dated 1877. DB1

"The Almonte Train Accident, December 27, 1942." Author: The North Lanark Historical Society; Publisher: The NLHS, 2003. Train accident between a passenger train and a troop train in Almonte, Ont. in December of 1942. Many names are listed in this book, and not just the names of locals. The book speaks of the rescue operation, survivors memories and how the Board of Transport ruled in the case. Some pics. KP4

"The Lanark Society Settlers: Ships' Lists of the Glasgow Emigration Society 1821." British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa. MJ2

"The Memorable Duel at Perth." Edward Shortt; The Perth Museum; 1970. Two law students get in an argument and the only way to settle it in their minds is in a duel in c1832 in Perth, Lanark County, Ontario. Several names are listed in this book. I also have the obituary from the newspaper for the author Edward Shortt. KP4

"The Merchants, Professionals and Tradespeople of Perth, 1816-1990." Gus Quattrocchi, self-published, 1997. A detailed street index that tells you what shops and businesses were at what location/address from 1816 to 1990 in the town of Perth, maps too. KP4

"Murder at Sharbot Lake." Cecil S. Paul, self published, 2002. The murder of Matthew Garrett. Lots of info and pics if you think you are a descendant of him, or from the Newton family. KP4

"A Narrative of the Rise & Progress of Emigration, From the Counties of Lanark & Renfrew, to the New Settlements in Upper Canada, On Government Grant; Comprising the Proceedings of the Glasgow Committee for Directing the Affairs and Embarkation of the Societies, With a Map of the Townships, Designs for Cottages, and A Plan of the Ship Earl of Buckinghamshire. Also Interesting Letters From the Settlements." Robert Lamond, Canadian Heritage Publications, 1978. This is mostly a historical account. There are a few early pioneer names given, but it should not be considered a primary source for locating your early immigrants. JAM

"The Old Methodist Burying Ground in the Town of Perth, Lanark County, Ontario: Currently Known as St. Paul's United Church Cemetery, Robinson Street, Perth, Ontario" James M. Neelin and Michael R. Neelin, Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, 1978 There are approximately 200 burial inscriptions, the earliest dating to 1845. Most burials were in the last half of the 19th century, but there are a few extending into the 1930s. JAM

"A Pioneer History of the County of Lanark." Jean S. McGill T.H. Best Printing Company, 1968. A Pioneer History of the County of Lanark by Jean S. McGill. This history of the county includes an index of settlers. Includes information on the early settlements, Rideau Settlement, Beckwith Settlement, settlement in Ramsay township, Peter Robinson's Irish Emigrants, lumbering, pioneer churches and ministers and the military depot at Perth. KP4, MJ2

Perth Co.

"Echoes of Ellice Ellice Township." History of farms in Ellice township listed by concession and lot, from 1827-1997. JW7

"Historical Atlas of Perth County, Ontario 1879." Reprinted by Mika Silk Screening Ltd., 1972. Featuring maps of the townships with the owner's name noted on the individual parcels of land. History of the various townships as well as photos of some of the early reeves, mayors and pioneers. JW7

"Water Under the Bridges : Fullarton TWP. 1824 - 1997." Writer/Editor: Dean Robinson, Aylmer Express Ltd. April, 2000. This book documents the ownership of properties in the township and gives histories of some of the families. Information on individual families is dependent on what they each decided to contribute. The book is indexed for everyone owning property in this Township. CB10

"At the Edge of the Shield: A History of Smith Township 1818-1980." Clifford and Elaine Theberge, Smith Township Historical Committee, the Alger Press Ltd. 1982. This is a comprehensive book which lists the township's early settlers, including the census of 1840. There are also many family anecdotes recorded, as well as details about early settlements, farming, the lumber industry, schools and local politics. P7

"Kawartha Park by Path and by Paddle." Doris Huffman, Archival and History Committee of Smith Township, Harper's Printing, July 1994. This book is a short history of Kawartha Park in Smith Township, Ontario. It contains many colourful details and anecdotes about the early residents of summer homes and cottages on Stoney Lake. P7

Stormont Co.

"Parish Registers of Births, Marriages & Deaths St.Andrews, West, Stormont, Ontario, 1804 to 1944." Duncan MacDonald. With the exception of the mission at St. Regis, these would be the earliest known R.C. records in Eastern Ontario. Contain the records of Baptism, Marriages & Deaths for the Parish of St. Andrews, West (about six miles north of the City of Cornwall,Ontario). DM10

"From Then Till Now-A History of Arthur Township 1850-1985." edited by Campbell Cork 1986. Printed by I B Printing Co.Ltd. Durham,Ontario Contains some histories of families who settled in the area, especially those who still have descendants living in Arthur Township. MIC

"A History of the Catholic Community of Kenilworth,Ontario 1830-1993." edited by Campbell Cork, Stan Brown Publishers Ltd.,Owen Sound,Ontario History of
the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church community in Kenilworth,Ontario. Does NOT contain specific information on families but does list the tombstones from Kenilworth,Roman Catholic Pioneer Cemetery. MIC

"A History of the Village of Drayton." Joseph M. Davidson & Everon Flath, M.D. 1954. MP1

"Thru the Years Maryborough Township Volume II 1851-1998." Maryborough History Book Committee, 2000. Historical and biographical information about the township of Maryborough Wellington County Ontario Canada 1851-1998. SK